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Ethan Aaron Banks

Ethan Aaron Banks at the Essex Echo
Working – me in the Essex Echo newsroom
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Ethan Aaron Banks Essex Echo story seen in MailOnline and the Standard
Picked up – My story about the death of Southender Dean Penson, who originally fell ill in Thailand, later covered by MailOnline and the Standard
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HBO Game of Thrones Darren Kent death Essex Echo
Number one – I was the first reporter in the world to publish the news of the death of HBO Game of Thrones star Darren Kent
Ethan Aaron Banks

University of Sunderland Sir Richard Storey and Sunderland Echo Prize awarded to Ethan Aaron Banks
Award – Sir Richard Storey and Sunderland Echo Prize
Siân Veasey

Team Australia diving Performance Director Steve Foley being interviewed by Ethan Aaron Banks
Interview – me speaking to the Team Australia diving Performance Director Steve Foley at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in November 2023

I am a professionally trained, award-winning, entertainment-focused journalist, who holds a gold standard NCTJ diploma and a first-class honours degree from Sunderland university.

Writing for online and print audiences, I have experience delivering celebrity, TV, royal and general news stories.

"Fantastic work!! Well done." – Christine 'Sugary' Staple

The Sun, Entertainment Daily, Essex Echo, Spark Sunderland, RETRO RAD 80s and SR News have published work produced by myself. Other nationals – including the Daily Mirror, MailOnline and The Standard – have later picked up articles I originally covered.

Notably, at the Essex newspaper and digital outlet, I was the first reporter in the world to publish the news of the death of HBO Game of Thrones star Darren Kent – which later went global and was picked up by brands, such as NBC and Entertainment Tonight.

My warm and friendly nature has helped me secure several celebrity interviews for exclusive stories – including Fast and Furious star Nathalie Emmanuel and 80s boyband Bros frontman Matt Goss.

"You rock!!!" – Cari Haim

I received NCTJ's 2023 Practical Magazine Journalism Award for my feature on how Paralympian Ellie Simmonds doing Strictly Come Dancing impacted the dwarfism community – which scored the top mark in the country – 87% – in May 2024.

Also, I was awarded the Sir Richard Storey and Sunderland Echo Prize from the University of Sunderland, in July 2023, for my practical project –dissertation equivalent – nostalgic showbiz website RETRO RAD 80s, as I scored the highest mark – 80% – in the module.

BBC Essex presenter Sadie Nine interviewed me live on her radio show in March 2023 about the charity single Let It Be by Ferry Aid to mark its 36th anniversary, following the feature on the subject being published on the nostalgic site.

During my time as a journalist, many contacts have been made, including with TV personalities, managers and PR companies.

Aside from entertainment, I covered Princess Anne’s November 2023 royal visit to National Coastwatch Institution Canvey Island, where she met some of the volunteers, handed out awards to long-serving officers and unveiled a plaque. I was the only journalist to be invited to attend the engagement and take exclusive photographs due to me negotiating with the charity.

I have also covered stories relating to many other topics, including politics, crime and sport.